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6 Embarrassing Parent Confessions

confession

Mom Confessions:

I confess that before I had children of my own, I was one of those people who looked at moms with screaming kids at the grocery store and chided, control your kid.

Now, when I hear the piercing screams of a child, I look down at the crumbly-cracker mess of a kid sitting in my own shopping cart, and sigh, I am sooo glad that’s not my kid right now.

Motherhood is humbling.

My ideals for parenting have collided in the face of reality and I have ended up settling for some gray area in between.

In comparison to what the experts say is proper parenting behavior, like brushing your kid’s teeth twice a day, or feeding your kids vegetables, I am severely lacking. Some might even call my parenting blunders, downright embarrassing. And, for some strange reason, I have this desire to purge my little dirty-parenting secrets hidden in the proverbial mom’s closet.

Don’t be shocked. It’s just the truth.

1. My kids don’t eat any vegetables expect an occasional kernel of corn

Yes, it’s true, you won’t see my little angels sucking down stalks of broccoli or eating kale chips.

What the Experts Say: Children should eat a balance of; protein, dairy, grain, vegetables and fruit every day. By choosing a well-balanced diet for your children you are establishing good health habits that will follow your child for the rest of his life. Discover what your children should be eating at healthychildren.org.

2. I let my kids have too much screen time

Thomas the Tank Engine, Curious George, Disney Cars, Veggie Tales, Sesame Street and the list goes on to infinity. These are playing way too much in my house.

What the Experts Say: The American Academy of Pediatrics discourages media use by children younger than age 2 and recommends limiting screen time to NO MORE than one to two hours a day. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, too much screen time has been linked to obesity, irregular sleep, behavioral problems, impaired academic performance and violence.

6 Embarrassing Parent Confessions | Rochester MN Moms Blog

3. I pick up my kids toys for them and they don’t do chores

Granted they are only 4 and 1, but I know moms who require their kids to clean when their little tikes are old enough to use the pincer grasp.

What the Experts Say: Gradually give your children responsibilities such as chores so they can grow into strong and self-confident children. Here is a great resource on how to teach your children to become respectful and responsible.

4. I only brush my son’s teeth once per day

I have no excuses on this one. Call in the mommy police and give me a fine.

In the back of my mind, my defense mechanism rationalizes and says to me, “Don’t worry about it, they are going to fall out anyways.”

What the Experts Say: Brush your toddler’s teeth thoroughly twice per day with a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure to supervise your children so they use the appropriate amount of toothpaste and do not swallow it. Find out more information from the American Dental Association’s website mouthhealthy.org.

5. I let my daughter fall out of her highchair head first, landing us a trip to the ER

It was terrifying day that I never want to relive. It was breakfast time. My back was turned away from her when I heard a sickening thud and then wailing. My 7-month-old daughter had wiggled out of her expresso wood, three-point harness highchair and fell head first onto the ceramic-tiled floor.

What the Experts Say: According to a 2013 Nationwide Children’s study, a whopping 9,400 children a year are treated for injury from a highchair or booster seat. While a fall happens in seconds, injuries can last a lifetime. Properly buckle your child in their high chair every time so they have no wiggle room. Make sure the highchair is away from the table or wall so they can’t kick or push the chair over.

 6. I pacify my kids in the grocery store by feeding them copious amounts of food

Did you read the part about my pacified, crumbly-cracker kid. On store days, I load up my bag with goodies like a soldier with ammo. Or, I just take my kids to Hy-Vee where they get a special treat at every turn. They haven’t even finished their cookie yet before they start clamoring for cheese.

In my mom-imperfections, I cling onto a valuable quote by Jill Churchill,

“There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one.”

I am light years away from being a perfect mom (of course, unless I travel in hyperspace), but I love my children with every ounce of my being.

I am a work in progress.

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